What is poster conservation framing?
Why is it important for you to know about?
Poster conservation framing takes place when all materials used during the framing process do not
compromise the integrity of the poster or picture. Also, special procedures and techniques are used to
protect your artwork when mounting it. Only 100% acid-free products are used: hinges, matting, backboard, glass or plexiglass.
The process is reversible without the paper being damaged.
When do you use poster conservation framing?
You use preservation and conservation framing strategies whenever you want to protect paper art and documents that
are valuable to you or hope to become monetarialy valuable. Why? Because the techniques used in conservation framing
minimize deterioration by the environment. You can read about what causes paper deterioration at
Movie Poster Preservation.
What poster conservation framing strategies can you employ to preserve your paper?
What is most important in poster conservation framing is what is behind and in front of the poster.
- NO GLASS. Glass entraps moisture and encourages decay of the paper. Glass creates a host for mold build-up.
Many framers
recommend spacers so that the poster is held away from the glass. But posters printed on large pieces of paper and will
inevitably touch the glass at the center of the poster, causing the poster to buckle.
Conservation glass is very heavy, expensive and breaks. Broken glass will scratch or cut your poster.
If you must cover your poster, then use plexiglass. Ask the framer to use high grade plexiglass with
UV filtering. Because of its anti-static properties, plexiglass repels dust and grime.
Whether you decide to use glass or plexiglass, make sure that it filters out 97% of the ultra-violet adiation. The UV light
is what causes fading of your poster and matting.
- In the back of your poster, only use an acid-free backing. Not all backings are the same, whether you use stiff
cardboard, linen-backer or foamcore. Make sure that the product is acid-free. Just because it is white in color does not
mean that it is free of acid. According to Sue Heim, expert framer, the best
foamboard is the Artcare Archival System manufactured by Bainbridge.
- Hinges must be acid-free with a water-based adhesive, otherwise the adhesive can migrate into the poster pager and cause damage.
- Keep your posters out of direct sunlight.
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